British Supporters of the American Revolution, 1775-1783: The Role of the `Middling-Level' Activists [Hardcover]

Sheldon S. Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 2004

America's Declaration of Independence, while endeavouring to justify a break with Great Britain, simultaneously proclaimed that the colonists had not been `wanting in attention to our British brethren', but that they had `been deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity'. This overstatement has since been modified in comprehensive histories of the American Revolution. Gradually a more balanced portrait of British attitudes towards the conflict has emerged. In particular, studies of pro-American Britons have exemplified this fact by concentrating on only a small upper-class minority. BR> In contrast, this work focuses on five unrenowned men of Britain's `middling orders'. These individuals actively endeavoured to aid the American cause. Their efforts, often unlawful, brought them into contact with Benjamin Franklin, for whom they befriended rebel seamen confined in British gaols. Their stories - rendered here - open up new areas for study of the American War on this middling segment of Britain's social structure.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This warm-hearted account of five unsung heroes is based squarely on careful archival research and adds important details to our growing knowledge of the activities of British pro-Americans. --American Historical Review

An appealing and deeply human effort that expands our understanding of the complicated ways in which the American revolution touched the lives of individuals throughout the British world. --Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

This is a welcome addition to the growing literature on British attitudes towards the American Revolution. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY An original and important scholarly contribution to the study of the American Revolution. THE HISTORIAN --Various

About the Author

SHELDON S. COHEN is Professor of History at Loyola University, Chicago

Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: Boydell Press (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843830116
• ISBN-13: 978-1843830115
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,904,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse of a less publicized aspect of the American Revolution, October 6, 2005

By 

Scott Cummings "PatriotResource" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: British Supporters of the American Revolution, 1775-1783: The Role of the `Middling-Level' Activists (Hardcover)

This is a rather brief work, but covers an aspect of the American Revolution that hardly been illuminated in recent works. The subject of British supporters of the American Revolution is given some coverage, but it is almost always concerning leading politicians or members of the social elite. Of course, these had influence in their own country and consequently, across the pond in America. Those of other classes had little weight with their own politicians and thus are unknown in America. Sheldon Cohen has selected five men who did what they could to support the American cause in Britain.

Four of the men (the exception being Irish merchant Reuben Harvey) apparently were a part of the same loose network which set out to aid American sailors detained in England's two gaols (prisons), many of whom spent much of the duration of the war imprisoned. Reuben added prisoners temporarily housed in Ireland. The men did not interact with one another, but had common contacts within the network and were known to Benjamin Franklin. The two merchants, Irishman Reuben Harvey and William Hodgson made the most significant finaicial contributions to the American cause, but were the only two who also lobbied for preferential treatment by the newly formed American government following the end of hostilities.

The author's style is fluid even with the level of detailed research exhibited, which is inherently dry. The author has obviously done extensive research as exhibited by the thorough notes that accompany this short work. Of note to the reader located in the United States: most of the sources are available only in Britain. This allows Americans a glimpse of lesser known elements of the American Revolution, but further reading in the noted sources may take more effort. This short work is nonetheless valuable because of light it shines on "middling" British natives who actively supported Americans.